tower: 3d chess platform

ABSTRACT

Whereas prior art inventions had sets with widely spaced and fixed boards, this invention—for playing chess and its variants in the third dimension; has seventeen interlocking, interchangeable, rotating, revolving parts. When fully constructed the several parts forms a tower with eight interlocking, rotating, revolving tiers no more than three and a half to four feet in height, each tier is design to hold a custom design clear acrylic chessboard with alternating raised squares of varying styles and design measuring up to 20.″×20.″×0.25; moreover, the basic rules of three dimensional/multilevel chess.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the field of toys & games. It is an apparatus forplaying chess and its variants in the third dimension, more over;figurines, knick-knacks, curios, and music boxes can also be display onthis apparatus.

Three-dimensional chess is not a new concept, for instance, Raumschach(German for space chess) is one of the oldest three-dimensional chessvariants and has survived until present times. Herr Doktor FerdinandMaack invented Raumschach in 1907. Maack first experimented with an8×8×8 array but later determined that a 5×5×5 array yields a bettergame. Maack founded a Raumschach club in Hamburg in 1919, which remainedactive until the Second World War.

Probably the most familiar 3D chess variants is tri-dimensional chess,which was popularized by the star, trek TV series.

There are many 3D chess variants, but the majority of these games andideas exist solely for the internet, today there is no tabletopapparatus available for playing true 3D.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Because there is no tabletop apparatus for playing 3D chess, I decidedto create one. Unlike prior art devices—with their fixed levels, widelyspaced tiers, and lacks versatility or variety; my invention stands amere three and a half feet tall, has eight revolving, rotatingtiers—which swings a mere millimeters above the tallest game pieces;moreover, each of the eight tiers accommodates a variety of chessboardsmeasuring up to 20.″×20.″×0.25″. Therefore, you can play more than onevariant of 3D chess.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1:

This is the completed set with boards and pieces.

FIG. 2:

This is the completed set, without boards and pieces.

FIG. 3:

This is an exploded view of the set.

FIG. 4:

This is a close up of the four primary parts of the invention.

-   -   A) This is the base    -   b) This is the arm    -   c) This is the platform    -   d) This is any size chessboard up and including 0.25″×20″×20″    -   e) Shows range of motion of the arm    -   f) Shows range of motion of the platform    -   g) This is a close up view of the hub end of the arm        -   1) This is the hubs' socket end        -   2) This is the hubs' dowel

FIG. 5:

This view shows the underside of the platform

-   -   a) This view shows a close up of the platforms' dais and dowel        -   1) This view shows the platforms' dais        -   2) This view shows the platforms' dowel    -   b) This view shows the arms' opposite side socket    -   c) His view shows the bases' socket

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

An apparatus for holding a number of chess boards in a vertical stackedarray simulating a three dimensional playing environment, this apparatushas seventeen interlocking, interchangeable, rotating and revolvingparts: consisting of one (1) base, (see FIG. 4 a), eight (8) arms (seeFIG. 4 b), and eight (8) platforms (see FIG. 4 c). Each of these sixteenparts socket together (see FIG. 3). When fully assembled the apparatuswill form a tower three and a half to four feet tall, with eightrotating and revolving platform, (see FIG. 2) each of these eightplatforms will hold a chessboard (see FIG. 4 d)of varying designs andsizes (including a custom design clear acrylic chessboard withalternating raised squares) up to 0.25″×20.″×20.″

Assembly of the device is simple and requires no tools or skill: firstfind a flat solid surface on which to place the base on, (see FIG. 4 a)find one of the eight (8) arms (see FIG. 4 b). Insert the hub end “dowelside” of the arm (see FIG. G/g2) into the bases' socket (see FIG. 5 c).Now, find one the eight platforms (see FIG. 4 c) and place the dowelside of the platform (see FIG. 5, a2) into the arms' single socket end(see FIG. 5 b). Repeat this process until you have assembled the entiredevice. The completed set should look like (see FIG. 2).

Use “the basic rules of three dimensional/multilevel chess” as aguideline rather than the rule.

The Basic Rules of Three Dimensional/Multilevel Chess

Three dimensional/multilevel chess is a game for advance chess players.It is a game for those who wish to take the game of chess to the nextlevel. If you are well versed in the rules of chess then you should haveno trouble understanding the basic rules of three dimensional/multilevelchess. Nonetheless, there are some fundamental differences between therules for chess and the rules for 3D chess. The difference in the ruleis design to take advantage of the three dimensional concept of the gameof 3D chess. The basic rules of three dimensional/multilevel chess aredesign as a guideline rather than the rule.

Chess has always presupposed a conflict between two warring armies so inthat tradition 3D chess will do the same. Whereas, in chess the conflicttook place upon a flat open plan, 3D chess will take place within amultiple levels structure, a castle; thus presupposing a castle siege,with one army attacking and one army defending.

The Initial Set Up for 3D Chess is as Follows:

The set up for three dimensional/multilevel chess requires eightstandard size chessboards, these boards can be stacked one above theother, or arrayed over a flat surface, like a table or the floor. The1^(st), or lowest chessboard is designated (i) and the last, or topchessboard is designated (viii).

The light pieces sets up on the first row of the first (i) and thesecond (ii) board, with major pieces setting up on the first board thepawns setting up on the second. The dark pieces set up on the eight rowsof the seventh (vii) and eighth (viii) board with the major piecessetting up on the eighth board and the pawns on the seventh board.

This arrangement of the pawns is design to protect the king and themajor pieces because a preemptive attack from above and below is moreviable in 3D chess.

Game Play

The Opening

Game play begins, as in standard chess, with the light pieces attackingand the dark pieces defending. The light pieces moves first and then itis the dark pieces turn. Both sides advance forward, developing theirpieces off their original squares, and across their respective boards.Once you have developed your pieces off their original squares—to yoursatisfaction, the middle game begins.

The Middle Game

As game play continues, with each side advancing forward across theirrespective board and then the light pieces ascend (upwards) towards thedark side and the dark pieces descend (downward) towards the light.

As in standard chess, control of the center is vital, and it is no lessvital in 3D chess. Boards iv and v marks the center of the 3Darray—because these boards affords either side the greatest advantageand the widest range of movement.

Control the center and control the game.

The End Game

The goal of 3D chess is the same as in standard chess—mate the king!However, this is easier to say than to do. Nevertheless, to mate theking will require great courage and skill; brute force may not beenough! Plan and execute carefully. Eliminate as many of your opponentspieces as possible, promote and replenish the ranks, separate the kingfrom its escorts. Moreover, sacrifice wisely.

Pawn and Pawn Promotion

To win you need reinforcements; which means pawn promotion. For pawnpromotion to occur in 3D chess the pawns must reach, respectfully, thefirst row of the first board (the dark pawns) or the last row of thelast board (the light pawns).

The light pawns must advance upward, board by board until it reaches theeighth row of the eighth board; and the dark pawns must advancedownward, board by board until it reaches the first row of the firstboard. Pawn promotion occurs at these two locations only, and nowhereelse.

Good luck!

1. I claim a tabletop apparatus; with twenty-four interlocking,interchangeable, rotating, and revolving parts design to socket togetherand hold a variety of game boards of varying sizes and design in avertical stacked array simulating a 3D gaming environment: I claim thetable top apparatus of the above mentioned claim, and the custom designclear Lucite chess board with alternately raised squares of varyingstyles, designs, and sizes up to and including 0.25″×20.″×20.″ I claimthe tabletop apparatus of the above-mentioned claim, and the basic rulesof three dimensional/multilevel chess, in which. I claim the basic rulesof three dimensional/multilevel chess, of the above-mentioned claim, andthe numbering system used to identify, record and catalogue squares andmoves in the game of 3D chess. I claim the basic rules of threedimensional/multilevel chess, of the above-mentioned claim, and therules for the initial set up of the game pieces.